Vegan Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan | Minimalist Baker Recipes

When the weather gets colder outside, I start craving all the warm, comforting, cozy meals. Think chili, shepherd’s pie, and hearty dishes like eggplant parmesan (which is on weekly rotation in our household)!

This is new my go-to crispy, gluten-free version that’s so easy to make, customizable, and insanely delicious. Let me show you how!

This 10-ingredient recipe starts with thinly sliced eggplant.

My original version required salting and rinsing the eggplant to remove bitterness, but having tested it both ways now, I’ve found that it’s an unnecessary step and one that adds too much moisture to the eggplant. Especially when working with gluten-free flours and bread crumbs, extra moisture decreases the level of crispiness you can get on the eggplant. Plus, not salting saves time, meaning this dish is ready in about 45 minutes start to finish.

This would make the perfect meal when you’re craving something plant-based but super hearty. It even satisfies picky eaters with its crispy texture, hearty dipping sauce options, and the fact that it pairs so well with pasta (hello, carbs, I’m Dana and I love you).

If serving with pasta and sauces, prepare at this time (optional). Once pasta is done cooking, drain and cover with a towel to keep warm. Set aside.

Next, dip eggplant slices in flour mixture, then almond milk mixture, and then breadcrumb mixture and arrange dipped rounds on a clean plate.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add 2 Tbsp (30 ml) oil. Let the oil heat for 1 minute. Then add 4-5 eggplant rounds at a time and brown for ~2-3 minutes on each side or until light golden brown. Then add to the prepared baking sheet, and add baking sheet to the oven so the eggplant can start baking.

Continue browning eggplant in batches until all rounds are browned and in the oven, adding more oil to the cooking pan as needed and turn down heat if eggplant rounds are browning too quickly.

Bake eggplant for 10-15 minutes or until crispy and golden brown, flipping once around the halfway mark to ensure even baking. Then serve as is or with desired sides and sauces.

I love serving my eggplant parmesan with marinara sauce for dipping and gluten-free pasta tossed in my Cashew Alfredo! (For more side and sauce options, check the options in the post above.)

Best when fresh. But you can store completely cooled leftover eggplant covered in the refrigerator up to 2 days. Reheat on a baking sheet in a 350-degree F (176 C) oven until hot.

Notes

*You can also try using gluten-free bread crumbs, but panko bread crumbs add a crispier texture.*Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 of 4 servings calculated with oil for cooking, and without additional sauces or sides.*Recipe adapted from my Vegan Eggplant Parmesan recipe.